Store: A corner store in the deli style along the Horace Harding Expressway. Gritty interior with classic, slotted-vinyl signage. A mom and pop team behind the counter makes for an endearing order experience. Overall, the lack of resemblance to a bagel store experience keeps the score tamped down. 3

Bagel: Medium-sized bagel with a small central hole. Not cut all the way through. Overly chewy, though no other hallmarks of bagel age. The Toppings (standard) mark the most interesting thing here: one-sided at high density with excellent salt ratio and a very briny sheen. It's this salt experience that drags up the overall score. 3

Cream Cheese: Served cool. Excessive application but evenly distributed on the bagel. Not much scallion play and too cheese forward. Unlike most other spreads that hit as overly ripe, I can see a demographic for this flavor profile but it isn't me. 3